Iran Votes for President After Campaign Exposes Divisions

Polling for 55 million voters started at 8 a.m. after a campaign that became increasingly bitter the longer it went on. Echoing recent elections around the world, it centered on populist claims that ordinary people were being left behind. The race was transformed by the April entry of Ebrahim Raisi, until then an obscure hardline cleric whose background spurred speculation he was being groomed as an eventual successor to Iran‘s ultimate arbiter, 77-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei cast his ballot as polls opened, calling for Iranians to vote in large numbers. Polls are set to close at 6 p.m. local time, though voting time is likely to be extended, and results are expected gradually overnight.